This year, we launched a Q&A Series with our partner company CEOs to provide insight, lessons learned and first-hand knowledge about what it takes to start and grow successful businesses.

This month, we interviewed Rich Milgram who has been CEO of Beyond.com for 13 years. During that time, he’s learned a lot about building a successful team and leveraging its strengths. Since Beyond.com is an online career network, Rich also has unique insight into the cycles of the economy and offers his take on the status of the current recovery.

Why did you choose to become an entrepreneur?
I don’t know if I chose it or if it chose me. My father, grandfather, and brother are all entrepreneurs, so I grew up with a passion for building companies. My first job in the real world after I graduated college was at GE Aerospace. I loved GE, and I learned a lot there, but I wasn’t able to be involved in a product’s creation from beginning to end. That’s when I realized I didn’t like working on something that I couldn’t touch, that I couldn’t physically or mentally be a big part of. There have also been times in my career when I disagreed with my managers and wanted my opinion to have more impact. So it was a combination of family and experience that led me to entrepreneurship.Read full article.